'Scripted Neighborhoods' By A Developer Who Defines Our Time

Do great civic spaces evolve or can they be invented? A look at the impact of "Disney-esque' developer Rick Caruso, the creator of The Grove, a successful retail complex in Los Angeles.

2 minute read

June 4, 2007, 12:00 PM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech


"The question, though, is how great civic space is created: Can it be invented whole or does it need to evolve? [Developer Rick Caruso] proudly admits that the Grove, like all his properties, is a mediated environment...The irony, of course, is that great streets are rarely scripted. Rather, they develop, changing and adapting over time."

"Here we start to see the influence of Hollywood, and even more important, of Disneyland, whose Main Street is an obvious precursor to the Grove...the Grove exists at the intersection of the town square and the movie set, a vision of a past that never was...according to Caruso Affiliated properties, 17 million people visit annually, more than come to Disneyland, and they spend an average of $126 per visit..."

"If you squint a little, there's almost the impression of a city center, a quasi-public space that's commercial, yes, but also communal...The Grove, after all, is controlled by a company whose goals may not be consistent with those of the community. Is it then a public space?"

"So what does it mean when neighborhoods get scripted?.. Why jog through a shopping center or walk your dog on a fake street when there's a real one only a few hundred feet away? The answer has to do with the nature of those real streets, which all too often in Los Angeles have been constructed for the car."

Monday, June 4, 2007 in The Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Bird's eye view of manufactured home park.

Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing

Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?

March 25, 2025 - Shelterforce

U-Haul truck on road with blurred grassy roadside in background.

Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?

Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?

March 27, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Downtown Los Angeles skyline viewed from a distance with freeway and trees in foreground.

Updating LA’s Tree Rules Could Bring More Shade to Underserved Neighborhoods

A new USC study finds that relaxing Los Angeles’ outdated tree planting guidelines could significantly expand urban tree canopy and reduce shade disparities in lower-income neighborhoods, though infrastructure investments are also needed.

7 hours ago - USC Dornsife

Aerial view of Claifornia aqueduct with green orchard on one side.

California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy

California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.

April 3 - Turlock Journal

Close-up of older woman's hands resting on white modern heating radiator mounted on wall indoors.

HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program

The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.

April 3 - The New York Times